CPITN application in regular dental practice.

The periodontal status of 8862 dentulous and partially dentulous inhabitants of the Federal Republic of Germany was investigated in various dental practices, using the CPITN, developed by the World Health Organization. The results show that a total of only 4.3% of those examined have a healthy periodontal apparatus and thus require no periodontal treatment. At least detailed oral hygiene instruction needs to be given to 95.7% of all subjects. Furthermore, 80% patients with periodontal disease require scaling or root planing, and 10% of them require periodontal surgery. The treatment of shallow gingival pocketing (CPITN 3) is predominant in every age group, and every fifth patient aged 35 years or more is need of periodontal surgery. This high frequency rate of periodontal disease illustrates the urgent necessity in regular dental practice for each and every patient to undergo periodontal screening. Such screening, based on the time saving CPITN, is to be recommended as it ensures fast, reliable determination of the periodontal status of each individual patient and the treatment needs involved.